RealJapan comments

Sue? The woman along with her attorney should be held in contempt of court. In over 60 years can she honestly claim that she has never watched a violent movie or TV show? Get real. The judge should send her straight to jail where she will have plenty of time to sleep.

Deposing - Disposing

Sad story. However, the sisters need a defense. I deem it "suicide by door lock" and "confidential eviction (kando)." Deposing of the body was fulfilling the wishes of the decease by allowing him to stay "hidden" from society. The real issue on trial should be hikikomori.

@all4faj - I believe that is why bar owners are required to check for id, first. Dah!? Was the girls involuntarily or voluntarily intoxicated or comatose like the prosecutor stated? Surely, a taxi driver would not allow groping in the back seat of a taxi to two comatose females unless it was customary in Japan to do so. The taxi driver said nothing. Prosecutors claim they have evidence from a video. Provide the audio to it then. Don't assume Hinds rented the room. Let the public know in detail WHO rented the room or rooms and provide the toxic report. 5-10 years cannot be considered justice when the case has more holes in it that would put a major doughnut shop out of business. Provide the toxic report now. If Hinds did it, release the toxic report, appeal the judge's ruling, and get more time added. Why be afraid to release the toxic report. Let the media scruntize it.

The LDP proposal is ludicrous. Just another test students will be forced to memorize and regurgitate with no real learning or critical thinking involved. Although I have lots of ideas on the subject the first two things Prime Minister Abe, repeat Prime Minister Abe, should focus on is making sure young students understand Japanese and possibly be able to share their culture with the world in English, and improving Japanese universities so that they are comparable with world class academic environments. Due to technology most Japanese are losing their understanding of kanji or do not understand or want to share their culture at all. While most Japanese universities with the exception of Tokyo University or Kyoto University, are mere open space catwalk fashion platforms and sport centers, so that university students can take a hituas from their families, until they join the workforce. The TOEFL is only an indication of how the student might be able to read and write in an academic classroom in English. Prior to forcing students to study for another test the LDP should focus on Japanese kanji and improving Japanese universities so that Japanese have a better understanding of self and be able to communicate academically like a real university student does on a global scale. Currently, Japanese universities are failing Japan and must be reformed.

A bar serves a minor drinks. The taxi driver allegedly allows a passenger to get molested. A hotel provides a comatose woman a wheelchair so that Hinds can allegedly take advantage of her in the room. The media claimed it was death by asphyxiation. Later officials change it to strangulation. Prosecutors then claim Hinds did it with his hands. Then they said he did it with a towel. A 9 panel member of judges claim it was murder with intent although they admit Hinds tried to help her. Her friend does not file rape charges against Blackstone. And no one as of today has released the toxicology report to the media.

Sue the bar too for serving a minor (Richard Hands) drinks.

Hotels have a general duty to protect their guests from unreasonable harm from other guests or non-guests. Hotels have an affirmative duty to protect their guests from unreasonable harm. Hotels can be vicariously liable for their employees.

However, it all depends, if Furlong had standing to be at the hotel.

The hotel appears to be negligent based on the facts so they MUST be sued. At the same time, the "toxicology report" and details of "who rented the room in which the crime was committed" needs to be released. Justice needs to be done from all angles. The parents should have the right to know if it was in fact murder or a reaction to something else. Not a one-sided trial that appears to be justice.

@The Chronic: The quote you posted from the newspaper implies that the "hatred of women" in rap had a part in Furlong's death. However, the women attended a "female rap" concert. The race of the rapper should not be a factor. If so, the same "freedom of speech" theory can be said about the House of Pain, Eminem, Iggy Azalea, etc. As for Elvis, background research should be helpful since he was surely influenced by gospel, soul, R & B, other genres of music, and, of course, blacks - making him the "King of Rock!"

Providing news articles that give a focus on the "toxicology report" and "who actually rented the room in which the crime was committed" should be what is posted first. The issue of "rap music" in the fray should come after the "taxi driver" and "hotel staff" are also sued or prosecuted.

@ The Chronic and @All: The newspaper article you are quoting is mistaken. Firstly, for the discussion at hand the concert Furlong and her friend attended was Nicki Manji - a female. Secondly, the same thing was said about "Rock and Roll."

The subject of rock ‘n’ roll has been controversial and a source of conflict between parents and children ever since it first appeared on the scene in the mid 1950’s. When Elvis Presley performed on the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time in 1956, the cameras only showed him from the waist up, because adults were offended by the way he shook his hips. The kids loved it! - Fr. Paul O'Callaghan

On the issue of the females being drugged released the full "toxicology report" to the public and provide full details of who rented the room in which the crime took place. Only then should comments about the case be made - not a one-sided trail favored towards the prosecution.

Was Furlong's friend molested in the taxi? The prosecution claims she was. Therefore, the taxi driver is culpable and can be sued as an accessory since he neglected to stop it. The hotel as well for providing a wheelchair. The information is one-sided and only supports the prosecution side. No evidence has been presented to date - other than a wheelchair and a self-confession. Was it a towel? His bare hands? asphyxiation or stragulation? The facts or evidence seem to change in every article. I agree Furlong's parents should sue in US court. Hinds might have some defense. If the OJ Simpson case is to be used as an example, after most convicted him, it is turning out that possibly Jason, OJ Simpson's son, may have actually committed the crime(s). Furlong's parents should seek out justice - not a mere self-confession based on the guy previously dancing on the train.

I agree with Cramp. Furlong's parents should sue the taxi company and hotel in a civil suit and the parents of the two boys should sue the defense attorney for malpractice.

@ House Atreides: My point exactly - Where is / was the "defense attorney?" How about an "Objection?" It should be the defense attorney's job to provide medical evidence to dispute Dr. Yoshida. Release the toxicology report, taxi video, etc. to the public. I would agree with Jack Stern that the two should had been sent to Ireland. Maybe just through a fair trial would have been served.

@kimuzukashiiiii: Camera issue is debatable. Fair point there. However, you cannot have a very strict privacy law like in Japan and then have cameras everywhere. Should be a crime. The same taxi camera should also be used to prove or disprove that she and her friend were "forced" in the taxi or not. Thus, the issue is not concrete and the parents should want justice - not a forced, self-confession that is "normally" the case.

@Lowly: I agree on issues of circumstantial evidence. However, where is it? I see nothing provided so far that it exists. If so, where's the intent? Sorry, i forgot he used a "wheelchair" first. It should be a crime too for taxis to have video cameras in a taxi and not inform passengers (especially with Japan privacy laws) in place. No need to protect "Hinds" since he has been viciously convicted. Surely, everyone wants justice for Furlong. Yet, at the end of the trial it seems to be another "forced" and "self-confession" to me. "If I misjudged my pressure, I humble accept it." - Hinds Case closed.

@House Atreides: I believe the statement perhaps should be corrected. It appears the statement you provided is from both Dr. Yoshida and Dr. Hamel. However, the statement is "according to Dr. Yoshida," with an end paragraph that Hinds "self-confessed." I find nothing credible about the statement as written and surely NOT a "self-confession." Again, where's the evidence? OR jury or defense attorney for that matter?

Is there such a thing of defense attorneys in Japan? Why not let a defense attorney speak? Cases seem to go from police, prosecutor, judge - GUILTY. Happens to both Japanese and foreigners. Was there a jury this time involved? Where's the evidence?

Did he actually commit a murder? The only evidence they point to is a "wheelchair."

This has happen before. With the possibility of a major earthquake happening at anytime, hospitals should be better equipped to receive all types of patient emergencies. Japan should create a new law to prevent this type of behavior or arrest all of the hospital administrators from the 25 hospitals and charge them ALL with criminal negligence.

Release the toxicology report. Is it suffocation or strangulation? Facts should be determined first.

I hate to say that "I told you so." Would've had the problem problem-solved in 30-days. Just a matter of time before another breaks the curfew again.

She worked for NHK for 20 years and seems to have left during 3/11 based on the embassy advisory and for the safety of her daughters. According to the article she cleared leaving with her superiors first and then found a substitute prior to taking a leave of absence. After working for NHK for 20 years you would think they would support their employees better. Regardless of her being called a "flyjin" on some discussion threads, there were many foreigners who stayed, volunteered, collected donations, and was willing to put their own safety first in order to help people in need or rescue people during the disaster. However, I do not recall the Japanese government or Japanese companies officially honoring any individual foreigners for their support during 3/11. If I am mistaken please feel free to direct me to a link where the information is posted. To top it off TEPCO never sincerely or formally apologized to anyone individually in Tokyo to my knowledge. Yet, they surely increased their fees on everyone. Instead of the Japanese and foreign community bonding together after 3/11 especially for people who stayed Tokyo for the most part has become more separated. Sad really - not to mention people still effected by 3/11 are still suffering.

Abe cannot do anything without Aso. Give it 3-months and more than likely Ishihara will become the new prime minister.

@mpoki: Reading your posts I see why some "law enforcement" in Japan get the name "Keystone" and now allow plain clothes MPs to enforce the curfew in Okinawa. Real rocket science going on here. Police Academy 2 at its best. Someone please call Inspector Gadget. Homer Simpson would do better standing patrol. LOL.

The "genius" that came up with this idea should be discharged. I would have worked with all parties involved and had the issues problem-solved within 30-days.

Sounds good! I am not online much but will be happy to communicate with you even if we disagree.

@taro67: I am not sure if the Japanese court and police would listen to us but it seems that you and I from different countries and cultures have found a solution! Good to do so between friends! I hope the situation between the teen and 24-year-old comes to a positive conclusion. Too much stress in the world.

@taro67: I can agree with the street cleaning. No problem there. I would probably recommend that the teen comes up with a least of three (3) suggestions that the 24-year-old can do. Something related to nature, perhaps, or helping to 1) clean, 2) cook, or 3) lift groceries or go to the store for old ladies. It can be communicated directly in Japanese so that the 24-year-old takes it serious. What do you think?

@taro67: I guess we will disagree without being completely disagreeable. I believe we both agree on some points but concerning the teen we seem to slightly disagree. I would rather the 24-year-old interact with the teen as part of the punishment. It seems you would rather have the 24-year-old do some sort of punishment then out of "goodwill" make contact with the 13 year old later if the 24 year old is truly sincere. If the 24 year old was forced to do community service what would you recommend?

@taro67: I stated "may even allow..." Let the teen and 24-year-old decide for themselves. A Japanese court can allow community service. The military and/or Japanese police can provide an objective interpreter if requested or needed. Let the teen and the 24-year-old problem-solve the situation together. Would be good for both instead throwing one in jail and the other growing up disliking all foreigners. Let the teen and 24-year-old work it out together.